Improved electrochemical properties of graphite electrodes incubated with iron powders in rice-paddy fields boost power outputs from microbial fuel cells

Studies have shown that the supplementation of anode-surrounding soil with zero valent iron (ZVI) boosts power outputs from rice paddy-field microbial fuel cells (RP-MFCs). In order to understand mechanisms by which ZVI boosts outputs from RP-MFCs, the present study operated RP-MFCs with and without ZVI, and compositions of anode-associated bacteria and electrochemical properties of graphite anodes were analyzed after three-month operation.